USA Trump nominates next TV man for government office
A Wall Street financier, a TV doctor and a former wrestling entrepreneur as Secretary of Education: Donald Trump also surprises with his next candidates for offices in the future US government. At the same time, the President-elect is sticking to the controversial nomination of radical Republican Matt Gaetz as Attorney General despite growing headwinds.
20.11.2024, 09:41
SDA
From Wall Street to import tariffs
Howard Lutnick, one of Trump's most important supporters on Wall Street, is to be the next Secretary of Commerce. He runs the New York financial firm Cantor Fitzgerald and is currently co-head of the team preparing for Trump's inauguration in the White House on January 20.
As minister, Lutnick would be responsible for implementing Trump's plans for new import tariffs, among other things. During the election campaign, the president-elect threatened to impose high tariffs on goods from abroad, claiming that this would force companies to produce in the USA. Economists, however, warn that such measures - such as those imposed by Trump during his first term in office - are likely to lead primarily to price increases for US consumers.
According to media reports, Lutnick unsuccessfully sought the post of US Secretary of the Treasury. He and Scott Bessent, also a financial manager, had been courting Trump for the post in recent days. Lutnick is said to have won over tech billionaire Elon Musk, among others, who supported Trump during the election campaign and has spent a lot of time with him since the election. Instead of his preferred position, Lutnick is now to take over the leadership of the Department of Commerce.
Ex-wrestling entrepreneur in the Department of Education
According to media reports, Linda McMahon, who was head of an agency responsible for small businesses in Trump's first administration, would have preferred this post. Now, as Secretary of Education, the 76-year-old is to make America "number one in education in the world", as the future president wrote. Trump had caused a stir during the election campaign by announcing that he wanted to abolish the Department of Education.
The majority of McMahon's professional career has been away from the education sector. Together with her husband Vince McMahon, she made the wrestling league WWE big. She was also head of the WWE for a time, but then went into politics in 2009 and tried unsuccessfully to be elected to the US Senate, among other things. Trump has supported her for years. McMahon is currently leading the team for the transfer of power together with Lutnick.
TV doctor gets important health post
The controversial TV doctor Mehmet Oz is to become head of the Medicare and Medicaid healthcare systems in Trump's new government, meaning he will be responsible for the care of tens of millions of Americans. Medicare and Medicaid are like state health insurance funds. Medicare is for people over the age of 65. Medicaid covers at least part of the costs of treatment and medication for low-income earners.
In the past, Oz has campaigned for more private benefits in the healthcare system. The 64-year-old made a name for himself as a heart surgeon and professor at Columbia University, but was criticized as host of the "Dr. Oz Show" for spreading controversial views on alternative medicine and paranormal abilities, among other things. During the coronavirus pandemic, he recommended untested treatment methods such as the use of the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine on television - and got through to then President Trump.
In 2022, Oz was to win a Senate seat for the Republicans in the state of Pennsylvania. He was also supported by Trump during the election campaign, but clearly lost.
Oz is already the third television personality in Trump's cabinet of choice. With Pete Hegseth as the candidate for Secretary of Defense and Sean Duffy, who is to become Secretary of Transportation, two presenters from the conservative Fox news channel, which is sympathetic to Trump, have already been nominated.
Trump sticks with Gaetz as his preferred Secretary of Justice
The most heated personnel debate continues to be about Matt Gaetz. In the US Senate, where candidates for government posts usually have to be confirmed, there are considerable doubts even among Republicans about his suitability for the position of Attorney General.
The long-standing congressman from Florida has been accused of sex with a minor and drug use, among other things, both of which he denies. The US Department of Justice ended an investigation into the 42-year-old without charges. However, the Ethics Committee of the House of Representatives continued to investigate the allegations and compiled a report. It is unclear whether this report will be published, as Gaetz immediately resigned his parliamentary seat after the nomination - which led to the proceedings being dropped.
Due to the circumstances surrounding his nomination, some Republicans also consider it highly questionable whether Gaetz can get through the Senate. Trump's party holds a narrow majority of 53 of the 100 seats in the chamber of Congress. A few dissenters in his own ranks could therefore be enough to torpedo the appointment.
On Tuesday, Trump was asked on the sidelines of a rocket launch by Musk's aerospace company SpaceX whether he could reconsider Gaetz's nomination - and responded with a curt "no". Musk also backed Trump's preferred candidate, writing on his online platform X that Gaetz would be "our judicial gavel".
